Typewriting and like machines



Feb. 7, 1939. E. s. DODGE TYPEWRITING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6MP MM m 7 fLBf/WZEPUDGE I am Feb. 7, 19.39. E. s. DODGE TYPEWRITING AND LIKE MACHINES Filed Oct. 9, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet MNJ 8.0M

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Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Elbert S. Dodge, 'Ilion, N. 'Y., assignor to Rem- -ington Rand Inc., Buffalo, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application October 9,

15 Claims.

My invention relates to typewriting and like machines and more particularly to tabulating mechanism therefor.

-Ihe main object of my invention, generally stated, is to provide a simple "inexpensive and easiiy manufactured-column stop mechanism for use in typewriting, computing and like machines, and which is highly efiicient in use and which may be combined awith'existing tabulator mechanism of such machines without modifying, -or materially modifying, the existing structural features thereof.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide in a mechanism of the character specified an improvedcolumn stop which may be-constructedof a single integral *piece of metal, and which is combined with and adapted for mounting on a special column stop bar construction for movement thereon into either :a projected or retracted position and toibesarrested in and held against accidental displacement .from either said projected or said retracted position by an improved detent means.

To the above andother ends which will hereinafter appear, myinvention consists in the features of construction arrangements of parts and combinations of devices set forth in the following description and particularly pointed out in the anpendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters :designate corresponding parts in the different -views:--

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, vertical fore and aft sectional view through the upper rear portion of atypewritingmachine in which the devices-of my invention have been embodied.

Fig. Zis an'enla-rged'detail, top plan view of a portion of the column stop assembly shown in Fig. ,1.

-l -'ig. -3 is a detail,;perspecti-ve view of the porti'on-of the icolumnstop assembly shown in Fig. '2.

Fig.4isan enlarged, detail, perspective viewof a member of the column stop assembly.

Fig. 5 is :an'enlarged perspective view of the column stop assembly with the column :stops removedand the detent bar shown separated from its actual position relative to the column stop bar.

Fig. 6:15 an enlarged, detail, fragmentaryfront U elevational View of a portion of the column stop assembly taken along line 26-43 of Fig. 1 and viewed inthe direction ofthe arrows at said line.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, detail, vertical sectional view taken through the column stop bar along line il-':'l .of Fig.2 and showing particularly the 1936, Serial No. 104,745

first of the column'stops in a retracted position .and the next column .stop in the projected position.

Fig. 8 is a like view of the same taken along line 8-8of Fig. 2 and showing particularly the 5 first column stop in the projected position and the .next column stop in the retracted position.

I have shown my invention, in the present instance, embodied in a standard Remington typewriting machine in which the invention may be .10 readily incorporated without modifying, or materially modifying, the existing structural features of the machine. Only a sufficient number .of parts of the :machine -havebeen shown to illusitrate the invention (in its embodiment therein. It is to "be understood, however, that the present invention is not restricted to embodiment in said machines, but may be applied to typewriting, accounting and like machines generally, wherever found available.

The usual-top plate in of the machine is shown with a carriage supporting rail lrl suitably fixed thereto. The carriage which is of the usual construction and .is conventionally shown in part carries a platen, diagrammatically indicated at 12, and comprises .end bars l3 and a rear cross bar 14 ,groovedin its .rear side. A similar groove ;is provided in the front side of the rail ll so that said grooves .or raceways jointly receive -crossed anti-friction rollers 15. These rollers [5, together withcorresponding means (not shown) rat the front-of the machine, support the carriage for movement over the top plate ill from side to side of the machine, under propulsion in the direction of its feedzof the usual spring drum, which has also been omitted from the present drawings.

A; feed rack supporting frame l6 pivotally mounted at I! to the rear cross bar M of the carriage supports a feed rack I8 which normally meshes-with a feed pinion l9 carried by an escapement shaft '20. The rear end of the shaft ZOcarries an escapementwheel coacting with feed 'dogs, all of which has been omitted from the present drawings and will be considered to be of the usual construction afiording a definite character spacing movement'of the carriage upon the operation of a printing key or the space bar. 'Theifeed rack frame MS may receive an upward pivotal motion about its pivots H by the actuation of any of the usual tabulator keys, through the usual means, which .have not been shown, to lift the feed rack l8 from engagement with -'the.pinion I19 and free the carriage from control :ofits escapement mechanism.

The column stop assembly of the present invention will later be described in detail, but in generally describing its embodiment in the machine illustrated in Fig. 1, it may be considered briefly as including a column stop bar designated as a whole by the reference numeral 25 which extends throughout, or substantially throughout, the length of the carriage. This bar carries column stops, each designated as a whole by the reference numeral 30, which column stops, in the present instance, are intended to be'spaced at letter-space distances apart along the stop bar 25, so that each position at which-the carriage may be arrested by the escapement mechanism brings one of said stops into alignment with key controlled stop setting means to be hereinafter referred to. The column stops 3D normally assume a forward or ineffective position on the stop bar 25 but are slidable transversely thereof to a rearward or effective position by any suitable means, such for example as the key-actuated setting means shown in Fig. 1.

The key-actuated setting means for the column stops partially illustrated in Fig. 1 is of-the usual construction comprising a vertically extending setting arm 40 pivotally carried at 4| by a bracket 42 suitably mounted on the top plate In of the machine frame, and movable rearwardly through an actuating arm 43 connected at 44 to a depending link 45 actuated by a key in the keyboard of the machine in the usual manner. The arrangement of this setting means is such that when the setting key is depressed, one of the column stops 30 which, according to the position of the carriage, is opposite or in line with the upper end of the setting lever 40 is moved rearwardly on the stop bar 25 from its normal position to a projected or effective position.

When a column stop 30 is in its projected or effective position, it is adapted to coact with one of the usual denominational stops which is projected to effective position or with any other tabulator means with which the column stops are intended to coact. In the present instance, one of the denominational stops is shown at 50 as pivoted at 5| to the usual tabulator frame 52 secured at the rear of the frame of the machine. Each denominational stop 50 is controlled from a tabulator key (not shown) in the keyboard of the machine, and a depression of a tabulator key moves the upper end of the corresponding denominational stop 50forwardly into the path of the projected column stop or stops 3!] and also (by means not shown) disengages the feed rack l8 from the escapement pinion l9, whereby the carriage moves freely in the direction o-f'its feed until the first projected column stop 30 engages the actuated denominational stop'50.

When the depressed tabulator key is released, the actuated denominational stop returns to its normal rearward position and the carriage rack re-engages with the escapement pinion to restore the control of the carriage to the escapement mechanism.

The column stops 30 may be restored from a projected position to a normal or retracted posi-.

tion by any suitable means which has herein been shown as the usual wiping plunger 55 housed in the tabulator frame 52. Said plunger is manually shifted in a forward direction by a finger piece 56 against the force of an expansion spring 51 to move a cam-shaped wiper head 58 into the path of projected column stops. A movement of the carriage then causes the wiper head 58 to cam any projected column stop 30 forwardly to a retracted normal position on the column stop bar 25 in the usual manner.

Having thus generally described, in connection with Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the arrangement and operation of one form of a complete tabulator stop mechanism, I shall now describe in detail the improved column 'stop assembly provided by the present'invention. In other words, my invention is concerned chiefly with that portion of the complete tabulator mechanism which usually is mounted on the carriageof the machine, andaccordingly its embodiment in themachine shown and described above in connection with Fig. 1 has been given merely to illustrate the use of the devices of my invention in machines in general and obviously may be embodied in other machines wherever found available.

The column stop bar 25 of the present column stop assembly may be of a construction very similar to that ordinarily used in Remington mastop bar 25 is retained on the ends of the brackets 26 by headed screws 21 (see Fig. 3) threaded into tapped holes 28 in opposite ends of the stop bar 25. Said stop bar 25 is shown in the present instance as substantially square in cross section.

and the portion intermediate its ends is pro-( vided with oppositely disposed teeth 25 between which transverse slots, notches or interdental spaces 29 are provided, which slotted or toothed sides, as they are shown in Fig. 1, are the upper and lower sides of the bar. The slots 29 are in transverse alignment and are spaced at letter space intervals, which may be ten or twelve to the inch, for example, depending on whether the machine is provided with pica or elite type, or are otherwise spaced according to the letter spacing of the carriage.

The column stops 3!] are thin blade-like members stamped or punched from sheet metal of a thickness fitting snugly within the slots 29 of the stop bar 25 and affording nevertheless a free sliding movement of the stops in said slots into and out of effective position. A'slot or bifurcation 3| is provided in each of the column stops 30 and is of sufficient width to receive and enable stops to slide on the body portion 25 of the stop bar 25 which lies between the oppositely disposed toothed portions thereof, each slot 3| being of sufiicient length to allow the required movement of the column stops 30 between their normal and projected positions. In this manner the 7 column stops 30 are guided for movement transversely of the stop bar 25 by the interfitting arrangement of those parts of, each stop on opposite sides of its slot 3| with the walls of the oppositely disposed slots 29 of the stop bar 25.

A means for arresting and holding the column stops 30 in their retracted or projected positions and for ordinarily preventing removal of the column stops from the stop bar 25 is provided in accordance with the present invention by an in tegral yieldable detent portion 32 of each of the column stops30 which coacts with a relatively fixed retaining bar 33. The yieldable portion 32 of each of the column stops is in the same plane as the body portion and is formed by a slot 34 the walls of which extend parallel with and beneath the walls of theguide slot 3|. The width of the central portion of the slot 34 is sufficient to receive the :body portion :of theoretaining bar 33 and afford a sliding movement :of the .stop thereon. 'Howeven'the :front .end .of the :slot 34 is of a reduced width :for-ming astop lug :35 engageable with the front :edge of :the retaining bar 33 and thereby preventing anaccidental detachment of eachstop from the stop bar :25.

The retaining ;bar :33 .is separate and distinct from the column :stop ibar 325 but .exten'ds beneath and parallel with the same throughout at ;least the portion of thevstop bar :between :the ends 126 of the brackets 526. The :retaining bar (331s held in such iposition against vertical displacement 'by the interlocking action :of .the column steps .30 which partially embrace both the stop bar I25 and the retaining bari33. JInorder to holdftherretaining bar 33 against horizontal fore and aft .dis-

placement relative to the 'stOpF'baT i2:5,za:key;mem-

ber 36 having T-shapediends 36%,36 :(see Fig. '4) is provided preferably at the central andcnd portions of the retaining :bar .33. The :stem' :or central body portion of :each of thekey :members 38 extends betwee nand :contacts with the {Crown of .one :of the lower teeth 2.5 :of :the'stoprbar 25 :rear surfaces :of the associated atooth :25 of the stop :bar whereas, the depending end portions "35 iii. :snug ly againstifront and :rear edges of :the retaining bar 33., thereby :preventing :any :fore

and aft horizontal rmovementrof the -retaining :bar relative to the stop bar.

The ll-owerssurface of themetaining bari'33 .is aprovided with ."a longitudinal engaging rib 31 .extending continuously throughoutits :length and located preferably near or adjacent .the front edge :thereof, as shown 'in Figs?! and .8. The arib 3?, which may be semi-circular in cross section, enters .a correspondingly shaped :depression or notch L38 in the :upper edge ofitheyield-ablezdetent portion 32 :of each column step 330 when :such column xstopzis :in its vnormaliretracted .-or ineffective position. 'When the column stop :is moved to its projected positiomthe rib 33F! enters a second similar shaped depressionior notch .39 also located in the upper :edge :of the yieldalhle *portion 3.2 but spacedforwardlyiof itheinotch 38.

The length :of the slot 134 and the closeness :o'f this slot to the lower end :of the ic'olumn stop :39 are so proportioned that-.theyieldableidetent portion 32 has sufficient resiliency :to be cammed downwardly changing the position of the column :stop and yetsuchfletent portion S-Zsshould have suffici'ent stiffness to reliably hold the column stop in either its retracted .or projected po- ,sition against accidental displacement ;by jars, vibrationstand the like. It will beznoted in :Figs. 7 and .8 that the slot 34 extends trearwardlyibeyond the upper :slot .31 and that the :rib 23!! "is located near the trout of theiretaining lbar 33, thus increasing the length through which the yieldabledetent portion 32 may be flexed during movement of the column :stop.

The front end-of the yieldableadetentaportion:32 of each of the column stops adjacent-the 'stoplug .35'15 sloped or provided with a camiedge :35 'to enable the column stops to be reaidilyxforced into position and assembled on. the stop bar 25 and retaining 'bar 33 by forcefully sliding the column stops forwardly so that thissloping end of the yie'ldable :portion 32 is cammed below the retaining bar 33 and its rib 31. On the other hand, the column stops might be removed from the stop and retaining .bars by prying or forcing .down the free .end of arm :32 of each stop so that thestop lug'351thereon will clear the retaining bar machine, it will be clear that the column stops 3!] and key members 36 may be assembled on the .stop bar '25 and the retaining bar 33 may then be inserted longitudinally through all the slots 34 of the column stops and through the spaces between thedepending arms 36 of the key member v'36.

:From a consideration of Figs. 2 and 5, it will be understood that the end portions 26 of the bracket arms 26 extend across the ends of the retaining bar 33 when the latter is in place and limit or :prevent any material longitudinal displacementofssaid bar 33 relatively to the column stop bar.

It also will be understood that when the parts are assembled the retaining bar 33 not only acts in that capacity in its cooperation with the detents on column stops, but also by its interlocking connection with the stop bar 25 through the stops 30, constitutes a reinforcingmember which gives greater rigidity and strength to and prevents a flexing of the "stop bar.

.It will :be seen, moreover, that there is but little machining of the parts required and that they may be produced and assembled at comparatively little expense.

The shape or profile of the present column stops 3G or particularly that of the upper and rear portions is intended to conform or substantially conform with that of column stops ordinarily employed in Remington machines. The

.rear vertical edge of these column stops 30 is .in the present construction the stops are devoid of separate springs each attached to a side of its stop .by a rivet. In the present construction, each spring detent member 32 is integral with its stop and is located in the plane of the body portion thereof.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I haveprovided by the present invention a simple and inexpensive, yet highly efficient and reliable column stop' assembly which may be readily incorporated in existing typewriting, accounting and like machines without modifying, or materially modifying the existing structural features of such machines. of this assembly are possessed of great strength and rigidity and so designed that they may be effectively held in either their projected or retracted position, and yet each of such column stops and its spring detent may be fabricated from a single :piece of sheet metal by a very inexpensive :process of punching.

Various changes may be made in the construction, and certain features thereof maybe employed without others without departing from my invention as it is defined in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a toothed column stop bar, column stops mounted to slide in the interdental spaces in said stop bar into and out of effective position,

The column stops for wholly supporting one bar by the other through said stops.

2. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a toothed column stop bar, column stops mounted to slide in the interdental spaces in said stop bar into and out of efiective position, a second bar detached from said column stop bar, interlocking connecting means on said stops for wholly supporting one bar by the other through said stops, and detachable key members forming an interlocking connection between said bars and preventing a lateral relative displacement only between them.

3. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a toothed column stop bar, column stops mounted to slide in the interdental spaces in said stop bar into and out of effective position, a second bar distinct from said column stop bar, interlocking connecting means on said stops for supporting one bar by the other through said stops, and detachable key members forming an interlocking connection between said bars and preventing a lateral relative displacement between them, each of said key members having a T-shaped head at opposite ends thereof which engages both bars when the key members are in place.

4. In a typewriting or like machine, the com bination of a column stop bar having teeth projecting from opposite sides thereof, column stops each bifurcated to straddle said stop bar and slide thereon in aligned interdental spaces therein to and from effective position, each of said stops also having an integral spring detent, and a retaining bar with which said detents coact and which is received between said detents and one of the arms of the bifurcated portion of each stop.

5. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a column stop bar having teeth projecting from opposite sides thereof, column stops each bifurcated to straddle said stop bar and slide thereon in aligned interdental spaces therein to and from eifective position, each of said stops also having an integral spring detent, a retaining bar with which said detents coact and which is received between said detents and one of the arms of the bifurcated portion of each stop, and detachable key members forming an interlocking connection between said bars to prevent a lateral relative displacement between them.

6. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a toothed stop bar, colmnn stops having a first bifurcated portion slidable in the interdental spaces of said stop bar into and out of an operative position, a retaining bar, key means interspaced between certain of said column stops for holding said retaining bar against lateral displacement relatively to said stop bar, and a second bifurcated portion of said column stops straddling said retaining bar and supporting it in place, and coacting means on said detent bar and on said second bifurcated portion of said column stops for holding said column stops against accidental displacement from either the inoperative or operative position.

'7. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a toothed stop bar, column stops having a first bifurcated portion slidable in the interdental spaces of said stop bar into and out of an effective position, a ribbed retaining bar, key means interspaced between certain of said column stops for maintaining said retaining barspaced apart from said stop bar and for preventing relative lateral movement between them, and a second bifurcated portion integral with said first bifurcated portion'of said :column stops straddling said retaining bar, and means on said second bifurcated portion of said column stops coacting with said ribbed retaining vbar for holding said column stops against accidental displacement from either effective or ineifective position.

8. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a toothed stop bar, column stops: each having a first bifurcated portion slidable in the interdental spaces of said stop bar to retracted or projected positions, a retaining bar,'detachable key members interspaced between certain'of said column stops for maintaining said retaining bar spaced apart from said stop bar and for preventing relative lateral movement between them, and a second bifurcated portion of said column stops straddling said retaining bar, and coacting means on said retaining bar and on said second bifurcated portion of each of said column stops for.

holding said column stops against accidental displacement from either said retracted or projected positions and for preventing'accidental removal of the column stops from said stop bar; r

9. In a typewriting or likemachine, the com bination of a column stop bar having transverse said retaining bar against transverse movement.

relative to said stop bar when said detent bar is placed in spaced parallel relation to said stop bar, a second yieldable bifurcated portion on each of said column stops embracing said retaining bar, and notches in said second bifurcated portion of each of' said column stops coacting with the rib of said retaining bar to hold said column stops against accidental displacement from either said projected or retracted po-.

sition.

10. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a column stop bar having transverse;

slots, sheet metal column stops, at bifurcated portion on each of said column stops received in the transverse slots of said stop bar for movement in said slots intoa projected or a retracted position on said stop bar, a retaining bar having a longitudinal rib, key -members interspaced be-' tween certain of said column stops for holding said retaining bar against transverse movement relative'to said stop bar when said retaining bar is placed in spaced parallel relation to said stop bar, a yieldable portion'on each of said column stops embracing said retaining bar and having notches therein coacting with said rib of the retaining bar to hold said column stops against accidental displacement from either said pro-' jected or retracted position, and means on the yielding portion of each column stop coacting with said retaining bar to prevent removal of thecolumn stops from the stop bar.

11. In a typewriting machine, the combinax tion of a column stop bar, a series of column stops slidable to effective and ineffective positions on said stop bar, a retaining bar mounted in spaced parallel relation to said column stop bar, and yieldable means integral with each of said column stops and partially surrounding said retaining bar 'for supporting it in place and for holding each of said stops against accidental displacement irom either said effective or ineffective position.

12. In a tabulating mechanism for typewriting and like machines, the combination of a plurality of stops, a toothed bar for guiding movement of said stops to effective and ineffective positions, a retaining bar, integral detenting means on each of said stops coacting with said retaining bar for arresting each of said stops in either said effective or ineifective position, and detachable key members interlocking with said toothed and retaining bars but otherwise free therefrom and acting jointly with said integral means of the stops to hold said retaining bar in spaced parallel relation to said toothed bar and against lateral movement relativelythereto.

13. In a typewriting or like machine, the combination of a toothed'stop bar, a series of stops each having a first bifurcated portion slidable in the interdental spaces of said. stop bar to effective and ineffective positions, a retaining bar extending in spaced parallel relation to said stop bar, key members interspaced between certain of said stops for preventing movement of said retaining bar relative to the stop bar in the direction of movement of said stops on the stop bar, a second yieldable bifurcated portion integral with each of said stops embracing said retaining bar to support it through said stops on the stop bar, and interfitting detent means on said second bifurcated portion of each of said stops and on said retaining bar for arresting each of said stops in either said effective or ineffective position.

14. In a. typewriting or like machine, the combination of a toothed stop bar, a series of stops each having a first bifurcated portion slidable in the interdental spaces of said stop bar to effective and ineffective positions, a retaining bar extending in spaced parallel relation to said stop bar, key members interspaced between certain of said stops for preventing movement of said retaining bar relative to said stop bar in the direction of movement of said stops on the stop bar, a second bifurcated portion integral with each of said stops and having a yieldable member with means inter-engaging with the retaining bar for releasably holding each of said stops against accidental displacement from either said effective or inefiective position.

15. In a tabulator stop mechanism for typewriting and like machines having a transversely slotted stop bar, the combination of a retaining bar extending in parallel relation to said stop bar, and a series of flat sheet metal stops each having a slot therein that enables the stop to straddle the stop bar and to slide in slots in said stopbar to projected or retracted position, each stop also having a second slot therein forming a yieldable portion coacting with said retaining bar to releasably hold each of said stops in a projected or retracted position on said stop bar.

ELBERQT S. DODGE. 

